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On early Caminos I had terrible blister problems until I discovered taping my toes and heels with surgical (paper) tape as a preventive measure. But, it has to be removed and reapplied pretty often. I haven't heard of Omnifix. @VNwaking, is something like this what you are referring to: https://www.amazon.com/Omnifix-Dressing-Retention-Tape-yards/dp/B001ANS1YS/ Thanks!No need to give up, but, yeah - ouch!
If they haven't broken open, do your best to keep the skin intact. You could use sandals for a few days to give those toes some air and space. Don't use Compeed, or you'll make things worse - they rip the tops off blisters. But taping the toes with paper tape (or even better omnifix - which you can leave on) might be really helpful.
Good luck and buen camino!
Take a day or two off and reduce the number of kilometres you are walking. The pharmacies along the route are a good source of help. When I had major problems with my feet I went to the emergency department where they drained and injected my blister with an antiseptic and taped it up. There was no charge for the service which surprised me.Hi!
I'm on day 3 of my journey.
I have managed to get pretty bad blisters on the tips and bottoms of both of my little toes. The rest of my feet are doing okay, with preventative compeed blister plasters and good socks. But these two toes are making walking really difficult.
I would also go see a pharmacist and show them your blisters and ask if you need to see a doctor. The pharmacists in Spain and Portugal have a wealth of knowledge. They are an excellent resource.Dont give up!
Do you have crocs or sandals that you wear in the evenings? If you walk, even for part of the day in them, it would give you some relief from tight shoes/boots? No harm to keep popping blisters, but get a small tube of iodine and apply it afterwards to avoid getting them infected (I'm lucky, I dont seem to do blisters, but have seen the results of others not taking care of them)!
Your best bet is to get to a Farmacia ASAP. They are skilled at dealing with pilgrim maladies, especially blisters. Get rid of your Compeeds, as they will tear your skin off when you remove them or when they fall off. They sold me some antiseptic spray and some blister balm that is literally magic! It’s sold in Fromista at the Juan Ramon Rodriguez farmacia. You rub it on your new blisters, almost blisters, and healing blisters 2-3 times per day, and it promotes the growth of new skin.Hi!
I'm on day 3 of my journey.
I have managed to get pretty bad blisters on the tips and bottoms of both of my little toes. The rest of my feet are doing okay, with preventative compeed blister plasters and good socks. But these two toes are making walking really difficult.
I've tried blister plasters, I've drained them (properly) but then they just keep getting bigger and have refilled with fluid. I have tried everything I can think of.
Just to clarify, they're not from friction/rubbing it seems to be more just the pressure from walking.
Help. I feel like giving up!
I had a similar problem, except it doesn’t sound as severe as yours might seem to be. I decided to visit a sports shop (Decathlon) and buy some Merrell trekking sandals that are one size larger than I normally wear. I already have some toe socks, which help wick moisture away from my feet and therefore prevent blisters from forming. I also purchased additional socks to wear on top of the toe socks. The combination of toe socks, an additional pair of socks, and proper trekking sandals seems to have done the trick for me.Hi!
I'm on day 3 of my journey.
I have managed to get pretty bad blisters on the tips and bottoms of both of my little toes. The rest of my feet are doing okay, with preventative compeed blister plasters and good socks. But these two toes are making walking really difficult.
I've tried blister plasters, I've drained them (properly) but then they just keep getting bigger and have refilled with fluid. I have tried everything I can think of.
Just to clarify, they're not from friction/rubbing it seems to be more just the pressure from walking.
Help. I feel like giving up!
Maybe you should try toe socks, if not, put some cotton between your toes, what it is important is that you drain the blisters all the time, otherwise, you are going to be in pain all the timeHi!
I'm on day 3 of my journey.
I have managed to get pretty bad blisters on the tips and bottoms of both of my little toes. The rest of my feet are doing okay, with preventative compeed blister plasters and good socks. But these two toes are making walking really difficult.
I've tried blister plasters, I've drained them (properly) but then they just keep getting bigger and have refilled with fluid. I have tried everything I can think of.
Just to clarify, they're not from friction/rubbing it seems to be more just the pressure from walking.
Help. I feel like giving up!
Yes, that's the stuff. It's easy to find along the camino - most pharmacias have it.VNwaking, is something like this what you are referring to
Thanks @robproct, Never Seen before - are Scholls silicone tubes available in Spanish pharmacies. ?Blisters are most unpleasant and quite crippling. My life was transformed with the use of Scholls silicone tubes. These are readily available in most pharmacies. Simply cut the length required and pull it onto the affected toe. Problem solved. Take it off each night for washing and allowing it to dry out. Good merino socks are helpful for the feet generally but for blisters the Scholls silicone tubes give instant relief. I had some spare so gave some to a suffering French girl who was hobbling painfully with blisters and came across her again a few days later when she reported thatch had no further problems.
Hey @Leemac40, fellow blister magnetAs a fellow blister magnet I have yet to find a way to prevent them, I would definitely try sandals as they have made a huge difference to me. After walking the West Highland Way I only suffered 1 blister which is a big improvement on my usual blister count! Got lots of strange looks and still lost a toe nail however I see it as a win! Take a break and be kind to yourself and your precious feet, Buen Camino
Perhaps not the Scholls brand, but silicone toe tubes are available. I bought some that were a few inches long that you can cut to size.Thanks @robproct, Never Seen before - are Scholls silicone tubes available in Spanish pharmacies. ?
I've been trying everything for years, last year during my Camino I decided it would be my last as there seemed to be no hope! As soon as the blisters cleared so did my defeatist attitude, visited a podiatrist who discovered I have no padding on the soles of my feet which makes them more vulnerable! Due to feet overheating anything with a lovely soft, spongy sole causes discomfort! Used gel pads inside my socks, toe socks with merino socks on top and hiking sandals which definitely helped! Will try sheeps wool round my little toes on next Camino in the hope of joining you in defeating the wee blightersHey @Leemac40, fellow blister magnet
Suffered from chronic blisters for years, all changed after testing recommendations from this forum.
Changed from hiking shoes to well vented trail running shoes with 1cm added toe space (length),
Replaced my cushioned hiking socks with a slim pair of darn tough hiker socks
Stopped regularly to air out the feet
Completed the Portuguese in May24 without a single blisters.
Make time to experiment and find a solution that works, best of luck.
A glance at replies urges me to say: no, please do not give up.Hi!
I'm on day 3 of my journey.
I have managed to get pretty bad blisters on the tips and bottoms of both of my little toes. The rest of my feet are doing okay, with preventative compeed blister plasters and good socks. But these two toes are making walking really difficult.
I've tried blister plasters, I've drained them (properly) but then they just keep getting bigger and have refilled with fluid. I have tried everything I can think of.
Just to clarify, they're not from friction/rubbing it seems to be more just the pressure from walking.
Help. I feel like giving up!
Sounds like trekking sandels are the best way to go from the start?Ouch! It is from being compressed or rubbing, even if only when you are going downhill, so the ideal is to change footwear, go for trekking sandals.
For now? Take the laces out of your footwear and then put them back but leaving out the first two, or even three depending on shoe style, pairs of eyelets.
This will then allow you to lace up firmly but leave the toe box unlaced so that it is free to open and flex. Also, when putting your footwear on kick your heels right back before lacing.
Those poor toes? Absolutely cleanliness. Keep them drained and then cover well. The ideal would be to then pad between, above, and below those toes with cotton wool, or lambswool. Any soft padding you can so that each toe is isolated and protected.
Sounds like trekking sandels are the best way to go from the start?
Hiking sandals have been my choice on six blister free Caminos.Sounds like trekking sandels are the best way to go from the start?
I saw some silicone toe protectors in Astorga - I don’t think they were Scholls though. I use ones for my second toes - as they are longer than my big toes and it stops them feeling sore from walking down hills. They would also work for blisters.Thanks @robproct, Never Seen before - are Scholls silicone tubes available in Spanish pharmacies. ?
These things saved me! I had thankfully packed nail scissors instead of clips so it was easy to cut these to size. I have a few in my hiking kit now. Love, love LOVE them!Perhaps not the Scholls brand, but silicone toe tubes are available. I bought some that were a few inches long that you can cut to size.
Like these:
View attachment 174908
The only other suggestion that worked for me on first Camino after getting terrible blisters was to buy a pair of hiking sandals that had a gel type insole & good tread. My second Camino I wore a new pair of same kind & never had a blister or hotspot using Ininji toe socks inside Smartwool socks on cold days & Wright socks on warmer days. Depending on where you are, a larger town has better selection. I wish you the best!Hi!
I'm on day 3 of my journey.
I have managed to get pretty bad blisters on the tips and bottoms of both of my little toes. The rest of my feet are doing okay, with preventative compeed blister plasters and good socks. But these two toes are making walking really difficult.
I've tried blister plasters, I've drained them (properly) but then they just keep getting bigger and have refilled with fluid. I have tried everything I can think of.
Just to clarify, they're not from friction/rubbing it seems to be more just the pressure from walking.
Help. I feel like giving up!
Blisters are awful and liner socks is a good preventative, especially the Injinji “toe” socks - like gloves for your feet.Once the blisters have dried and walking is again possible I recommend getting a pair of thin "liner socks".
Taping up toes with paper medical tape as a preventative worked for me as well!Don't give up, it will get better!
Have you tried tape? I tape my little toes for the same reason, and it helps to prevent blisters or cover existing blisters so I can walk more comfortably. It helps if you use fun colored tape!
Buen Camino!
I had a similar problem with my left little toe. I solved it primarily by purchasing some Merrell trekking sandals from a sportswear shop (Decathlon). I bought them a size larger than I normally wear. I already had merino wool toe socks, and an extra pair of hiking socks to go on top of the toe socks (hence the need for larger footwear).Hi!
I'm on day 3 of my journey.
I have managed to get pretty bad blisters on the tips and bottoms of both of my little toes. The rest of my feet are doing okay, with preventative compeed blister plasters and good socks. But these two toes are making walking really difficult.
I've tried blister plasters, I've drained them (properly) but then they just keep getting bigger and have refilled with fluid. I have tried everything I can think of.
Just to clarify, they're not from friction/rubbing it seems to be more just the pressure from walking.
Help. I feel like giving up!
I have been wearing “toe socks” for about 10 years. Thoroughly recommend them! CheersBlisters are awful and liner socks is a good preventative, especially the Injinji “toe” socks - like gloves for your feet.
That certainly can be a cause, but also look at the shape of the insole of the shoe. Most of the trail runners come with hard insoles that cup the foot and therefore provide a number of rubbing spots. There is no reason that you can't clip those away with a handy pair of scissors!In my experience, blisters on the outside of my baby toes are caused by the shoe being too narrow.
Not sure if you can get at a pharmacy in Spain but there are these Toe Gel tubes/socks in 2 sizes, small for toes and large ones for the big toe. I was getting incredible pain just in my left foot on me little toe and the middle toe and I bought these and it made all the difference. Like little gel tubes. You can cut them down if they are too long.Hi!
I'm on day 3 of my journey.
I have managed to get pretty bad blisters on the tips and bottoms of both of my little toes. The rest of my feet are doing okay, with preventative compeed blister plasters and good socks. But these two toes are making walking really difficult.
I've tried blister plasters, I've drained them (properly) but then they just keep getting bigger and have refilled with fluid. I have tried everything I can think of.
Just to clarify, they're not from friction/rubbing it seems to be more just the pressure from walking.
Help. I feel like giving up!
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